India, Myanmar sign telecommunication cooperation pact

Published: Sunday, February 8, 2009, 19:32 [IST]

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Mandalay (Myanmar), Feb.8 (ANI): Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari today witnessed the opening of Trans-Border Optical Fiber Communication Link between Myanmar and India, which enabled the former to get its first international broadband technology gateway.

Besides the establishment of a cross-border link, India also signed an agreement with Myanmar for providing it with a telecommunication service.

The agreement was signed between Myanmar Posts and Telecommunication (MPT) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, a Public Sector Unit of Government of India. The agreement was signed by Tint Lwin, General Manager, Myanmar Posts and Telecommunication and N K Jain, Group General Manager, BSNL.

The project for implemetation of optical fiber link between Moreh in India (Manipur) and Mandalay in Myanmar, together with ADSC system was signed between Myanmar Posts and Telecommunication (MPT) and Telecommunication Consultants India Limited (TCIL), PSU on March 9, 2006.

Myanmar's Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs, Brigadier General Thein Zaw said the link and the pact would enhance communication helping for the development of Myanmar IT and telecom industry. The cross border fiber link, he said, would enable Myanmar to route its internatinal voice traffic through the Indian border town of Moreh and hoped to utilize India's internet backbone fully in future also.

Minister Zaw acknowledged India's contribution towards IT development in Myanmar, which is abysmally low when compared to what the country's neighbours possess.

He said that the successful project will certainly assist the broadband information and communication technology in Myanmar and it wll also encourage the good relationship that has already existed between the two countries.

TCIL Chaiman and Managing Director Rakesh Upadhyay said the company would keep working with Myanmar to provide technical support and furthering the cause in the area of telecommunication. By Ravi Shankar (ANI)